Sunday, November 29, 2009

This is a really cute clay chocolate sweets making kit. A clay is light weight and called "fuwa fuwa mousse". "Fuwa fuwa" means soft like a cloud.

This kit comes with various machines/molds and cutters including:

1 - 1 soft clay molds to form various shapes (macaron, waffle, tart, pudding...) in order to make chocolate creations

2 - 4 different colored pieces of clay (white, pink, yellow and blue)

3 - a push through device that allows you to make additional shapes and designs

How to make...

*****To make 8 different kinds of ropes

*Please follow the pictures on the instruction included in the kit.

1-Choose your rope design and place to the rope design plate with smooth side against the macine.

2-Lift up the handle and put the clay in (please look up to the picture for the place to put the clay).

3-Put down handle slowly and push it.

*********To use the mold tray (the tray is yellow and attached to the bottom of the rope making machine..just pull off).

1) put a bit of vegetable oil using a cloth on the inside of the mold tray.

2-Fill the molds with the clay. Press the clay firmly. Using a rolling pin, flatten the clay. Then, please remove any excess clay with a knife.

3-Pop out of the tray using both hands by pushing little by little (please look at the pictures on the instuction page which is included). If you push to much you will change the shape. After please put somewhere safe to dry.

****************Using 3d molds

1) Please oil the molds using vegetable oil on a cloth.

2) Put a ball of clay in the deep side of the mold-it shouldn`t be flat but rounded.

3)Close the mold.

4) Put the 3d mold in between the handles of the rope maker (please look at the picture in the instructions) and push down. I`m not sure you actually need to do this....you might be able to just close the 3d mold and push yourself but the instructions say to put the mold between the handles of the machine.

5)Open the mold and remove and remove any clay around the joint. If it is difficult to remove, you can you a toothpick to gently remove it.

When decorating your chocolates (ex gluing the rope or shapes to the base) you need to use glue meant for wood (according to the instructions). Glue is NOT included in the kit.

It will take 1-1.5 days to dry.

You will need to glue the pieces together. The glue for wood is NOT included in this kit.

If the clay is hard when you want to use it please use water to make the clay soft.

In the past, when a person died, it was expensive to give flowers or fresh food so, people made sweets (these are made from soy flour, rice flour and sugar) in the form of flowers, fish etc. These items were then placed on the "butsudan" (family shrine found in the house) for the dead person.

This is a set of unique molds making small triangle shaped rice balls easily. This is so easy to make. All you need is to put some rice into the molds and press it. You can make 3 rice cubes like the picture.

Friday, November 27, 2009

This is soooo cute hannari tofu plush! This is new series called Christmas Series. This one is santa and yellow yuzu Hannari Tofu. She wears a cute hat and santa costume and holds a bag for presents. So Kawaii!! This is rare goods which is not available on any shopping mall or online store.

These are really cute 2010 new year sticker flakes!! There are many traditional Japanese New Year decorations and cute tigers. Next year is the year of the cow according to Chinese/Japanese horoscope so the image of tiger is everywhere in Japan.

40 stickers

These sticker flakes are made by Japanese washi paper.

these would be perfect for scrapbooking, card making or any project you can think of!

This is great! You can easily make maki sushi using this mold. There are 3 parts to this mold. You fill the little mold 80% full with rice....down the length of the rice, make space for your fillings. Then put this mold with the rice into the bigger mold. Add more rice to cover your fillings, then put the lid on and press down. Have your nori already out on a table, push out the rice and roll....voila! Maki zushi!

Often made of sakura (cherry wood) and seasoned for about 3 years before carving, kashigata were used to make dried confectionery made of rice flour and sugar called rakugan. Earliest records show that this practice dates back to the mid-17th century. These confections were used as offerings and snacks for celebratory occasions and even unfortunate events. For example when a person died, it was expensive to give flowers or fresh food so, people made these sweets in the form of flowers, fish etc. These items were then placed on the "butsudan" (family shrine found in the house) for the dead person.

Kashigata were also used in the making of wagashi (nama-gashi or freshly made cake and hi-gashi or dried confectionery) for tea ceremonies.

With the advent of refrigeration, fresh fish replaced rakugan motifs like the sea bream. Sadly today, making offerings for fortunate and unfortunate events is no longer a common practice. This in turn has lessened rakugan demand although they are still found in tea ceremonies and homes. The decrease in kashigata artisans today has made kashigata carving a dying craft making kashigata itself a sought-after collectible.

*You can use this mold as food mold to cook. Please clean thoroughly before using.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

This is an amazing kit for animal lovers. You can make an imprint of your little dog/cat's paw into a cell phone strap/ key chain.

It comes with everything you need....the clay,the chains and straps.

Please note: The yellow, pink and purple clays are oven clay. The pink package contains air drying clay that will be used to make the mold.

Instructions:

1)The clay in the pink package is to make a mold of your pet's paw-roll into a ball and then press down with the palm of your hand into any shape but please make sure the clay is not wider than 5.5 cm (so this is for small animals and a circle is recommened).

2) Press your pet's paw into the clay to make an imprint.

3) Let the clay air dry until it is completely dry.

4) You now have your mold. Please pick a color of oven clay (pink, yellow or purple) to fill in the imprint. Then, cover the top of the mold with a different color of oven clay.

5) Carefully, remove the oven clay imprint from the mold.

6) Preheat oven to 120 degrees Celcius (250 degree F). Put in the oven on a piece of aluminum foil for 30 minutes.

7) Take out and let cool. Make a hole where you like and attach the chains or straps.

Voila! Your pet will always be with you!

Please check my other stores:

TheKawaiiKitchen.etsy.com for baking/cooking supplies

SouZouCreations.etsy.com for fabulous handmade items

DecoSweets.etsy.com for Japanese sweet decorations, clays, molds, kits and books

Friday, November 20, 2009

These nori punches are soooo cute! There are pictorial symbol patterns to punch nori. You can make cute smiling faces (about 13 patterns - Check the chart on the back). It doesn't give the size of the punch but they are small. Perfect for adding cuteness to your child's lunch!

This is cute bear letter set! This is called "cafe cafe" by Kamio Japan. There are cute baby bear plush and strawberry cake made by cotton. They are written in french and I can't explain because I can't understand...But they are so kawaii!!!!!!!!!!

Often made of sakura (cherry wood) and seasoned for about 3 years before carving, kashigata were used to make dried confectionery made of rice flour and sugar called rakugan. Earliest records show that this practice dates back to the mid-17th century. These confections were used as offerings and snacks for celebratory occasions and even unfortunate events. For example when a person died, it was expensive to give flowers or fresh food so, people made these sweets in the form of flowers, fish etc. These items were then placed on the "butsudan" (family shrine found in the house) for the dead person.

Kashigata were also used in the making of wagashi (nama-gashi or freshly made cake and hi-gashi or dried confectionery) for tea ceremonies.

With the advent of refrigeration, fresh fish replaced rakugan motifs like the sea bream. Sadly today, making offerings for fortunate and unfortunate events is no longer a common practice. This in turn has lessened rakugan demand although they are still found in tea ceremonies and homes. The decrease in kashigata artisans today has made kashigata carving a dying craft making kashigata itself a sought-after collectible.

*You can use this mold as food mold to cook. Please clean thoroughly before using.